A Conversation Between Matt Berninger and David Letterman
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- Опубліковано 26 вер 2024
- Available to watch on UA-cam, and listen as a podcast on all platforms: thenational.ff...
David Letterman and Matt Berninger talk about The National’s songs & lyrics, live performances, their shared experiences of depression, and more.
Producer - Marisa Gesualdi
Editor - Chris Sgroi
Director of Photography - Alesso Romano
Cameras - Brandon Unpingco, Stuart Solomon, Alessio Romano
I divorced this year and went to The National concert (Mpls.)and cried like a baby during, About Today.. These two are legends (heroes) and this is so compelling.
When I listen to About Today I get very emotional as well. It reminds me about how I felt when I visited our premature born son, who died when he was one and a half months old. It sometimes felt like we were not really there when we visited him because of the emotions we went through. And we talked to him, but what can you tell him. He could not understand anything. I think a lot of people have their own interpretation of this great song. It’s my favourite.
The funny thing(well not so much) is I rarely cry and never in public and not even signing the divorce papers, zoom meetings with attorneys, her..
But Matt’s lyrics/voice sure did it 😢
Sorry for your loss. @@susenwis
I weap with you. That song is one of the best ever wrote.
I've seen them play 14 times and never seen them play About Today. Very sorry to hear about what you've been through.
Great to see Matt looking and sounding healthy. Makes me happy.
Is he sick? Sorry I just got into The National and don’t know much about them yet!
I've struggled with depression and anxiety my entire life (first panic attack at 9 years old). When I found The National around 2005, it was like finding the music of my soul. Fortunately, the symptoms have eased over the years. Love this interview.
Thanks for the vulnerability.
Who?
Matt Berninger is one of my favourite people. I can't wait to see The National in London next year.
Yeah, so glad they're back in the UK so soon. I went to the Glasgow show a couple of months back and got tickets to their show at Edinburgh Castle next year too. Blown away by how good they were, goosebumps the entire show!!
Philly show
“Lyrics in the liner notes is like fish flapping on a beach.”
Just a casual example of Matt’s ability to paint mental pictures. One of the best parts about their music!
I knew i was depressed when it took me months to listen to I Am Easy To Find, the National is one of my favorite bands of all time, and i just couldn't find it in me to put a new album on, not out of fear of the emotions it might dredge up, but because all joy had left my life
I'm better now, took leaving a relationship and walking from a six figure job, but im closer to myself than ever before.
The lyric, "dont you know someday, somebody will come and find you, if you dont know who you are anymore, they will remind you"
That was my friends, friends from childhood, college and then some, who reminded me who i was before all those layers of depression started to change my perspective , value system , and want out of life
The I Am Easy To Find album and film have meant so much to me. Thank you Matt!!!
I can't quite explain it, but it brings me great joy to know that Letterman is a fan and that your songs resonate with him in the way that they do.
Same
I am so grateful for this. To have Matt and David both sharing these dark truths, not only with each other, but the world.
Matt has spoken for me for years in ways I could never say. Hearing him and David describing pieces of my own life in there own experiences is incredibly moving and impactful. We're not the only one's who've struggled alone in the darkness of our own minds. Prisoners to the intangible oppressers in our heads.
Thank you gentlemen.
The National moves mountains in my mind I didn't even knew existed
I love how Dave did decades of entertaining fluff tv and since retiring he’s been doing the most incredible interviews of a lifetime now. I grew up watching him and he’s better than ever
2 hour version please! These two stellar minds need more than 27 mins...
The National were on Letterman years ago and I remember Dave seemed so genuinely impressed by them. Super cool to see them talking all these years later.
A BIG thank you to David Letterman and Matt Berninger for this interview. Being someone who has suffered with MDD combined with anxiety disorder in varying degrees of severity for most of my 55 years I have to say that watching this was really cathartic for me. Depression tends to make you feel very much alone and this video reminded me that I'm not.
Went with my adult children to the show at MSG. Being in the room with these artists is amazing.
Matt has so much insight and David has become so interesting as he’s aged. Good for them. More men need to have these vulnerable conversations.
Amazing show 8/23❤
Dave has always loved and supported musicians and bands!!!🔥👍🏻
This is a treasure. Their music has been, is a soundtrack of my life.
Much love for both of these men for being so real. ❤❤❤
I'm almost a year in now, not the first bout but the latest. I fear what the winter may bring. No therapy and no pills this time. I'm laying on my bed watching you on my phone. I wasn't going to comment but the tears have come and I need to say something. Thank you. I haven't realized how much I needed to hear from someone who knows.
Hope the winter has been ok for you.
@@beebeeguy69 Thank you. It has been better. Still some problems with sleep. I was actually at the doctor's today for some blood work, just a check up as I hadn't been for a while. She recommended some counseling so I think I'll follow up with that.
I’m going to screw up my nerve, and thank Matt for writing the soundtrack of my life and struggles for years now. Sometimes I feel like we must have been separated at birth, but since I’m 10 years older, probably not. Still, no one eise has ever described my life and inner self like you, Matt.
This should be a 10 part serie, not just 30mins
It's great that there isn't the stigma of depression that use to be so prevalent, that it can be talked about in an open and honest way.
Absolutely
Cannot wait for this.
Same!!
By “this” you mean depression, right?
What a gracious group of humans.
Dave is an amazingly gracious and considerate conversationalist.
I could listen in for hours, thank you so much for this gem! ❤
waaaaayyyy too short, please tell me there will be more. Matt seems so at ease, Dave is clearly having a blast. There's chemistry here. Send these guys antiquing or to a farmers market, put them in a coffeeshop or just more here. but very much: more please
Agreed. We need more!
I was in Lisbon (from Seattle) for a trip in October. Serendipitously ,The National (one of may all time favorite bands) were playing while I was there at Campo Pequeno, an old bull fighting arena.. It was the best show I've ever seen (and I've seen hundreds at this age). The mutual love fest between the TN and their Portuguese fans was stunning. I'm tearing up writing this, remembering what an amazing and life affirming experience it was.
Fantastic conversation, told with great sensitivity and humor
I went to see the Arcade Fire perform in Atlanta and this band called “the national” was opening, I’d never heard of them so took a pit stop to get some Taco Bell. Also had some shrooms with my burrito. Anyways I walked into the auditorium and the shrooms were kicking in and they were playing “about today”
That song live was life changing and better than most of the actual concert from arcade fire. I love this band and I’m so glad I stumbled into such a masterpiece of a song that day.
If I even think about that song my whole body gets goosebumps never mind hearing it!!🤣
I walked into an Italian disco once on a Sunday afternoon , and 10cc’s “I’m not in love “ was playing , mirrorball spinning, sparkling walls, granted it wasn’t THE NATIONAL ! And I wasn’t on schrooms, and ARCADE FIRE! wasn’t playing, but I know that perfect moment. You are so lucky to have seen them both! Thank you for the great video,David and Matt. I wish I were as talented as you guys. Who will even read this? Thanks for the funny comment. They must’ve been shiitake, right?
Matt and Dave, thank you for being so honest about having self doubts and insecurities. It is refreshing to know that we are all in the same boat and even a legend like Dave has much in common with an average joe like. Also, Dave, I still miss your show btw. Colbert is great, but I wish you both had a show. :)
Could not agree more.
I really enjoyed this conversation. I hope the two of you will do more.❤
‘What is this, when will it leave, what can I do about it?’ Thank you! 😢❤
The National and Matt, you are just legendary, really. 1 year of listening to you, going to concerts, and I'm just so sad that I only got to meet them now at age 21. Jeez. I wish had I met when I most needed you. Your music is like a drug. You can't just stop listening, especially the live versions. So captivating, so deep, so mind exploring and so much feeling. For sure, gonna see you live again when you come back to Portugal (in Porto now, in 2024). You're just incredible. I feel like I could be listening to this in loop and just having me talking to Matt. So insightful conversations. I honestly that's my "dream" : getting to know Matt and the band. You guys are outstanding. Keep it up
Love it! Both men are class acts!
This is incredible. I love their relationship. Thought something was up when they were both on Colbert. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I saw them in Minneapolis in 2013 because I wanted to see their opening act, Daughter. I had just been fired from one job and was leaving another. It was the lowest I had been in my life. Their music sent me down a rabbit hole and I realized all the connections with other artists. Cut to Aaron and Taylor writing a song with justin Vernon who I was already a huge fan of. It just rekindled my love for The National. Saw them again this summer with my long time friends. All of them are parents now, all of them have lost parents. I revel in the connections music makes between best friends as we go about living our lives. When I’m singing lyrics with friends I had no idea had been listening to the same thing all these years it’s indescribable. One of my friends I took to the National in 2013 and didn’t know the band came with me in 2023 and is a bigger fan than I am.
One of the best lyricists out there!
this was great. found myself wanting more, would have loved to hear dave ask questions about every single song he found fascinating/interesting in some way. as a comedy buff but not so much attuned to music, i loved dave's questions, and matt's answers enlightening (and of course, i'm sure many of us who like dave/the national have had experience with depression, so that was fascinating as well)
I wish I had just a small amount of these guys perception and eloquence. Thanks for the insight.
Okay now I'm just counting the days til my next Natioanl show... Loved this convo so very much; living with someone who has debilitating depression...it is always so helpful to get any kind of insight about that experience, thank you thank you thank you...cry baby cry.
We are not our outputs. We are not our work. We are so much more
More uncut from arrival to leaving--- please!!!!
IMMEDIATELY WATCHING THIS IS GONNA BE AMAZING
Yup!
The beautiful thing about these two as I see it, and maybe they'd disagree, is that even when they're in performance mode they still retain who they are at their core. They've always come across as being true to themselves, and maybe that inner battle they've experienced while wrestling with the social gaze is necessary to achieve that. Matt is truly an alchemist, making the most brilliant and captivating sounds from what at face value might appear melancholy or mundane to most people.
I can't wait to see The National at Edinburgh Castle next summer.
I'm only more a fan of you both after hearing this discussion. Hugely helpful.
I’m always wanted a sequel to LOOPER
Thank you for this, it was healing.
I’m a depressed therapist myself and there was a lot of this conversation that was relevant to this dark ennui and post-burnout apathy I’ve been feeling. I identify so much with the idea of living a duality/needing to perform despite your humanity - and it’s of my own design because I was eat sleep breathe sacrifice self for the clinical craft for the early years. Thanks for posting, we all need community when the struggle feels a little heavier wit this condition.
Two of my favorites in entertainment together. Never would have guessed this interview would occur but I'm thankful for it. I really enjoyed their thoughtful discussion on depression. It's good big celebs like these guys are talking about their struggles. Deep guys. Love em both so so much.
Good conversation, but God I wish Letterman would not interrupt so much.
Couldn't have said it any better.
Absolutely fantastic!
Thanks guys...
i rediscovered the National last year, after i broke up with my now ex girfliend. i felt i didn't diserved to be loved, that i was going to screw up everything in my life. the National helped me a lot during that time (in particular i listened to Sleep Well Beast), i really relate to Matt's lyrics and i felt, and still feel, understood. thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you created so far, i'm looking forward to come to your show in italy this summer. love you so much
I loved this interview so much! ❤️❤️
I could listen to 3 more hours of these two chatting with each other...please do a part two 🙏🏽🥰
Hits hard
Thank you for this, these conversations are golden. I love how Matt is kinda coaching David L, We are looking forward to seeing The National in Feb in New Zealand.
Really great convo! And worth watching the Colbert interview / performance & listening to Strike Force Five interview for even more. It all connects which is pretty cool. Like a David Letterman multiverse from the past few months.
Love both these men. The National one of the best bands oh 21st century, and Letterman has been a minor god to me for about 43 years.
I'm here from Albuquerque, NM. We saw The National on 11/14/23 in a venue with maybe 1,200 people. Matt and the Band were on FIRE. Wish we could go to Europe in June to see the shows..... maybe I'll hit the lottery.....maybe.
I was in the car driving when I first heard “Tropic Morning News” and the imagery was almost instantaneous in me. “Something somehow has you rapidly improving…” is such an incredibly layered lyric - like, I’m happy for you and your progress toward being normal; but I wish I knew the secret sauce because without it I’m just going to be stuck here in my own hell. I drove on with this song telling me the story of some fictitious failed relationship and became overcome with emotion. The National had become one of my favorites in those moments.
I was just thinking the other day about the unique perspective DL has on a popular music. A live musical guest on his show _five nights a week for 33 years_ ! From launching obscure (then) up and comers like REM to well established juggernauts like U2 he’s had a front row (well slightly to the side) seat to all the most relevant bands in the world playing live. No wonder he can pick a good band from a mediocre one.
Two favorite people🙏🏼
Would love to sit and talk about my side of life with these guys... brother/father questions I don't get from my world
‘ have you tried cottage cheese? ‘ 😂😂😂 fucking brilliant .
… me neither by the way
Great conversation and insight
Loved this!
American Cosmic on the back shelf. Hell yeah Matt. 🛸
Stories of monkeys and digital religions
Very interesting. As a long term melancholic with a few crises of depression, the one tactic I learnt was to tell myself “give myself a year”. I don’t know how I found that thought when I was at my lowest, but I was looking for a rational thought in my mind to fight the forces of emotion. That simple reframing of my mind is why I made it through. Anyone feeling very depressed try it, give yourself one year, give your feelings that space and time. It still gives you the choice to opt out if you feel the same way, but maybe things will be different. You and your loved ones should be given the chance of one year.
Seeing Dave be so polite and sedate it actually reminds me of some of his early interviews on his morning show and when he first started on late night television. Not that I remembered these per se lol but saw some of them on youtube. Anyway his clinical vocabulary is a bit off putting but it’s also nice seeing the mature nice guy version of Dave as opposed to the agitator/smart ass. Anyway glad he’s keeping busy doing what he does best talking to people. And speaking of depression it’s not a hard time to imagine that with the way society and the world is failing apart. Here’s hoping for a miraculous turnaround. And please vote.
Beautiful
About today always makes me think of my first girlfriend. And how happy I was with her but she didn’t love me like I loved her. Just like all my ex girlfriends. Still haven’t found what I’m looking for. I pray I’ll find the right one but I’m 36 sometimes I feel like it’s too late. That song always gets me. I love The National. Turns out I didn’t like the National when my ex showed them to me but when she left me that’s all I listened to and fell in love with them. Ironic.
Letterman has always has obscure underground artists on his show dating back to having maybe the 2 weirdest artists to walk the earth in Captain Beefheart and Pee-Wee Herman.
Btw they^^ both are two of the 25-50 greatest artists/performers of the 20th Century.
This was a great conversation!
Matt does a good job turning it off, but he can't hide it completely. His lyrics don't lie.
I ❤ this
I never liked Letterman as a talkshow host. But the things he did afterwards are so good.
Matt, your best song is ‘Not in Kansas’ thanks for making it.
Oh. SUCH a good song.!
❤❤
@@stacytw79 It is
wonderfull , i have been a ( singer song wrighter for years?)becouse it was the only way to get my feelings of depression and anxiety out of my head, so i could see it and start to understand what my brain is doing , to hear others talk about the same things means im knot the only one , there is comfort in this , thank you both !
I've had slight depression my whole life, but 2020. was different. In 2019. I rolled up my sleeves, worked my ass off on music and beginning of 2020. it started to show some great results (and it also brought on the beginning of a burnout that I only healed of in September this year). When covid hit all I worked on got wiped into non-existence (the music scene is like that - no seniority or experience matters unless you are actively riding a wave that you yourself have created for you) and I fell, for the first time, in a serious depression. I even had my frist (and I hope - last) suicidal episode. What a feeling...
I disagree with the notion of depression being a thing that shows you the -real world- as it always works in one of the three combinations: 1. I am shit 2. Why do anything as everything is pointless 3. A general feeling of dread. I've never heard anyone have it hit them differently then one of these three or a combination of them. It's a virus that feeds you these thoughts, shows you the entire world through one of these lenses and a suicidal episode is just the virus not allowing you to see or think anything besides these things. It's an emotionally painful thing, blinding you to anything besides a though "I want this to stop".
Going through this made me understand more why people who are successful but suffer depression end up offing themselves. Talking about it made me less ashamed to have passed through it because it confirmed to me that it's not me that is weak, but it really is just a virus that turns you into someone you are not for a while and to a certain extent. I am so happy that people are talking about this more openly, allowing others to see it for what it is and feel less alien for experiencing something that is maybe invisible, but certainly real and valid.
David is a huge fan boy. Just wants to talk about what he wants to.
I'm here now.
the "turn on a personality, for an intense few hours, then turn it off...next day turn it on, turn it off" sounds like being a teacher/professor. You have to be someone else, you have to preform for an audience, you have to get them to like you, work them through their own emotions and daily issues, try to impart something lasting, and then do it again and again - sometimes completely different setlists (lessons) in completely different forms (different histories/maths/sciences). then try to rest. and do it again the next day." And get reviewed on how the audience feels about the performance.
shows how much teachers are on stage. and how draining it is to do so, day after day.
So true. My first week of summer break I create a big chore around the house in attempt to fight off the downturn.
Whatever they were eating is the pink rabbits version of food 😅
This could be 3 hours long and it would still not feel long enough
Dave was in no way a carbon copy of carson,regardless of what he thinks. His show inspired generations of comedians in such an extraordinary way,and i hope he’ll eventually understand that.
I saw them at Edinburgh Castle a couple of weeks ago……..what’s not to like.
Esto va a ser épico, papus.
Saying no is Important. Take care of yourself first , because if you don't, you're no good to anyone.
I heard that the other 2 members of REM are still performing.
Manic can be fun & get a lot done, but you can pay for a small amount of manic with an abyss of despair. The proportion is way off. Manic is a drug, people get addicted to the high. I lost nearly 2 years of my life to this stuff, mostly depression. For me the meds worked - literally saved my life. I don’t understand why people won’t consider meds. Try it & if you hate it, don’t do it. You may get lucky and hit your perfect formula first try. I did a year and a half of drug trials to find the combination that has worked. Worked brilliantly 30 years so far. Another thing to consider: You will probably have to do some emotional housework to become a not-sick person. Your anger may be righteous anger. Find a way to let some of it go.
Matt looks like he is stifling frustration every time Letterman talks over him
Depression and anxiety are real. Many do not even know they have it until something makes them snap whether through a panic attack or drifting to such lows. Talk to a professional and get help. It is treatable
Is Letterman interviewing himself? It seems to be all about him.
Glad I'm not the only one noticing...
definitely interrupts way too much
I think he’s [his version of] giddy with recognition of something deep and personal in another being whose art he greatly admires. I’m a long-time fan of both and, although it does undermine the interview somewhat (Dave gives Matt more time as the conversation moves along), I think he’s as appreciative and fan-earnest as he can be.
Seriously, I really wanted to hear what Matt had to say, and every single thread was interrupted/hijacked by Letterman. Listen to the Norah Jones podcast; so much better.
❤
letterman is 100% what michael vsauce will look like in 30 years
Same thing with guilty party and walk it back
Letterman interrupting too much IMHO
please, add subtitles :(
Love Matt , what a class guy and quite sexy as well😊